So many lives have been changed and improved thanks to pioneering research in the medical field, and this latest one could completely transform the quality of life for babies born with a certain defect.
According to a report by The Times, scientists will soon be using modified pig organs to treat infants born with oesophageal atresia.
Oesophageal atresia is a congenital condition that can be diagnosed within the womb at around 20 weeks. It occurs where the upper oesophagus ends and doesn’t connect with lower oesophagus and the stomach, and the complications that arise can be life-threatening.
In this world-first experiment, leading surgeon Paolo De Coppi and his team will use stem cells taken from the affected babies to modify the pigs’ food pipes. Within the ‘scaffold’ of the pipe, they will grow the tissue needed to correct the oesophageal atresia.
The current procedure used to correct the condition involves sewing the upper and lower ends of the oesophagus together, but this can lead to life-threatening complications, such as an increased cancer risk.
De Coppi – the surgeon who built a new trachea for an 11-year-old through stem cell treatment – explained the potential reach of the new technique to The Times.
“The focus is on newborns at the moment, but in the next 10 years we hope to apply this to adults with conditions such as cancer of the oesophagus,” he said.
The new technique is set to be carried out next year by doctors at London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital. Each treatment will reportedly cost around £100,000.
The modified organs will be implanted ideally when the babies are two or three months old.
Stem cells have previously been combined with pig DNA to treat heart valve problems, which has, unsurprisingly, led to ethical questions.
Earlier this year, it emerged that scientists had successfully grown human cells inside of pig embryos. While some people lauded this step and how it could help the field of medical science, others have branded it ‘Frankenscience’.
What are your thoughts?
